Sunday, November 16, 2008

And the crap just keeps on coming . . .

*SIGH !*


This has turned into a LONG weekend. Saturday morning, Ashton and Patrick had to leave, so I took Heather, Jake, Alexis, Chloe, and Quentin to the mall. Oh my Gosh, the mall has already become a mad house ! Parking lot rage, over crowded stores, and everywhere you turn, some idiot is trying to shove a free sample in your face. I thought trying to keep track of five rowdy, reved up teens would be a chore. I had told Chloe's dad that I would be going to the mall with them, but you know, I'm not cool enough to hang out with them. So I figured I'd co-ordinate the chaos from my home base at the food court via cell phone, while I sipped diet coke and nibbled Mrs. Field's cookies. Didn't exactly work out that way.


I found myself a table at the food court, the girls showed up and chatted for a while. As soon as they left, the boys showed up. I must be cooler than anyone wants to admit. We all agreed that the crowds were more than we wanted to deal with, so I gathered them all up and we went home after a quick stop at Borders Bookstore.


I had to stop at the bookstore because, I had to find a copy of a book that has been much recommended: Women Who Run with the Wolves. I've decided to read it slowly and try to absorb it. So far, I'm really liking it.


Anyway, all three of Jake and Heather's friends stayed another night. After having them for so long, it just doesn't seem to matter anymore. Alexis and Chloe went home early this morning, and Quentin NEVER seems to go home. He finally left around 7:30PM so we could eat dinner.

Shortly before that, Nick and Jennifer stopped by. They're both so depressed. Jennifer is sad because she just found out her parents home has been foreclosed on. She and her family have spent most of their lives moving all over because, her dad was in the Marines. When he retired, they moved into this house. They have been struggling with payments for the past five years, and I guess the bank was feeling the holiday spirit, so they foreclosed.
Nick is depressed for a number of reasons. He doesn't know where all this leaves him, he is up to his eyeballs in legal issues and he can't seem to find work to have any money to hire a lawyer. It's just a matter of time before it all comes crashing down on him and he will have to accept a court appointed lawyer, which means he could be looking at up 16 months in jail. (mostly because they have up graded his last DUI to a felony.)

Right now, I just feel exhausted. I'm done with birthdays for the year, and now I have to think about Thanksgiving and Christmas. UGH ! Christmas Sucks !!!! Thanksgiving seems like enough, don't you think? Why do we have to do Christmas too ?!!! They have taken all the meaning out of Christmas anyway, why bother ?

I think I need to get all my kids to bed, draw a nice hot bath, and drown myself - I mean, soak for an hour or so. *sigh* Times like this, I wish I was a drinker. But no, no, no, I don't get that privilege.

Okay, I'm going to go do just that, before I depress everyone.

Good night.
Love,
Susan

6 howled back:

Anonymous said...

I love that you have Women who run with the wolves. You know what? I'm going to start reading it too now (properly and not skim over bits) and we can talk about it together??

Love ya,

m

Gypsy Jasmin said...

Just want you to know how much I love you! You are an amazing mom and have always been good about taking in the strays weather they were mine, Nick's or the other two.They will appeciate that thier friends were welcome as they get older. I still get asked "How is your mom and dad?" Hope you have a nice bath! Love ya!

Auburn~haired~artist said...

M: That sounds good to me. I've only read up to page 35. So ...I'm getting ready to start chptr. 2. I loved the first story, La Loba, the wolf woman. I could relate to gathering the bones, but I can't seem to get the right song, which really sucks 'cause I am really ready to run free.

Jas: I'm glad. You do realise that originally, my motivation behind "taking in the strays" is because I thought I could keep a better eye on you. That didn't really work out so good, but I kind of got used to having a bunch of teens around. By the way, you were right about Chloe, she and I chatted Sat. night and she is a good kid dealing with her circumstances as best she can. I still worry about her though.

Wait. What? said...

I heard about that book recenlty on the JWC site - I totally forgot I needed to find it this weekend - I ahve way too much going on - but kudos to you - it sounds like you are the cool mom!

Cat

Anonymous said...

I'm not done w/ birthdays yet. The mom's is on Christmas Eve, and she's already pouting that I am not going down east for thanksgiving...so, I'm certain this year will be riddled with guilt laden phone calls well into the new year season.

I think your taking in strays was a case of doing the right thing for the right reason, even if the end result was not what you expected. You're still finding yourself enriched from the actions you took!

Makes you a very rich person from within!

-C

Auburn~haired~artist said...

Oh Chris . . . mom can't still be upset about you and Scott? Well, I guess she could be. . . I'm sure you'll find a way to gracefully let her know how much she's loved inspite of not being there. Moms will be moms, there's not much you can do to change that.

It's true that things here get a little out of control with so many kids, but I have never regretted taking one in. I honestly don't know what I'll do when Heather, my baby, is grown and gone.